Regardless of whether or not they give you a timeline (which they should), take the proverbial "bull by the horns" and start to read more about the various steps/order with regard to building a house and start to make some decisions before the builder asks you about it. I found this website on Google and it gave me a little more background on the process: http://www.kelownabc.com/construction/ If you are picking out windows, you are still at the beginning of the process and there are a LOT more decisions to come. In our situation, no one is telling me to finalize tile picks even though I know they're going to need to order the tile soon. In most cases the foreman is so focused on what needs to be done in the immediate future (in our case, the doors) that he's not thinking 2 steps ahead. I found that getting a small notebook helped with phone numbers, etc. I've been looking at things like tile, lighting, cabinets, paint, wood, fixtures, doors/hardware, etc 3 or maybe 4 times before coming to a final decision. Give yourself about an hour a day and you won't feel so overwhelmed. And when I start to worry about whether or not I'm making the right decision, I just remind myself that it's just a door, hardware, etc and not an attempt at world peace.

Some random thoughts... Re: the trees. Some maples are solid trees, some aren't as said so I'd get someone who knows trees to look at them. The real estate agent *can't* say anything against the house by obligation. They have a fiduciary obligation to the seller so never trust a real estate agent. They're out for the money. If they'll put it in writing that the trees are solid, fine, then they're responsible but of course they won't. Real estate agents rank very close to telemarketers IMO. Also, if you need to remove the trees, that can be rather costly. So be careful. However, again, they could be good trees and I'm a fan of trees. Re: the lawn. I like a big yard. If you're not too finicky, just get a riding mower and you can handle mowing. Or if you don't like it, hire it done or in the future you could hire someone. I've been hiring occasionally when I just can't handle it. Not very expensive and I find great value having distance between myself and the neighbors. Re: Standing water. Can be important or not. How much water? Can it be modified slightly to drain better? With the bottom of the outbuilding rotted it suggests an issue although that could depend on the age. Have you had an unusual amount of precipitation recently, snow and rain that would make this a fluke or is it normal amount of water? If it's normal, expect it. If it's going to pond water in the summer, you could have mosquito issues. What's the soil conditions? Sandy? Clay? If there's not very good drainage that would be a consideration. Re: the outbuilding. The owner saying it's good, well, that's a representation. If they don't make a disclosure you could have recourse against them if it turns out it's more rotted than you think. I might still have it inspected and do some negotiating that they misrepresented the place so they're not trustworthy. Are there any disclosures on the place about it, the drainage, etc? Re: Mailbox. You can buy a new mailbox for $10-$20 and up if the looks of the mailbox really bothers you. That wouldn't be a consideration to me nor would replacing the glass on the light fixture. That's petty cash expense. You'd spend more buying a piece of Tupperware than those two expenses combined! I wouldn't let that determine whether or not to buy a house. Re: Outside looks (brick, etc) To me, would see the inside of the house more than the outside so to me, the inside is more important. Much like I'm more concerned about holiday decorations *inside*, that I'll see, than outside. I'm not here to put on airs for others. Some people take a lot of pride in the outside looks of their houses and want it a certain way. If that's you, there's treatments for brick, even paint, which I dislike, but many like it. Options: Have sellers remove the trees, remove or repair the outbuilding or deduct from the price appropriately. As far as adding on... Are you going to get what the other house offers you, or a different house should you decide to keep looking? Remodeling can be expensive but doesn't have to be. If you can get what you want, and if you like where you live, then it's worth considering. Sit down and write out what you REALLY want in a house. Include room sizes, costs, payments if applicable, don't forget taxes, insurance, how close to shopping, doctors, recreation, etc. Then, see if the house you're looking at has it. How about the house you have? How does it compare? Then look at a few different modifications to the house. With it done, how would it compare? For me, an attached garage is a very important feature on a house so when I look for places, it really subtracts value if there's not at least a single attached garage. It helps if it would be able to be added easily. I've run across several places I really liked, but when I went home, sat down and looked at my priority list, well I haven't moved yet... Years ago I made a list of things I really like about my place and a list of things I really don't like, together with things I would like in a new place and might like. There's been things on other houses I've seen that impress me so I noted them. I know I'll never find "the perfect place" but it helps to evaluate different ones. And now as I'm getting older, accessibility is more and more important. But I try to keep it realistic. For instance a new place would be nice if it was one level living, however as long as there's the main rooms, a bathroom and a bedroom on the main floor, it would work for me. A place with all bedrooms and bathroom(s) upstairs would not. Also with looking at places I've seen some modifications to certain common style houses that were well done and really would work well for me. Maybe some of these would help you in your considerations. Kinda makes your head spin, I know. In most places, it's still more of a buyer's market so don't let a salesperson scam you. And keep in mind there's LOTS of houses for sale even if you don't get this one!

Isle2isle, thanks for trying. The basalt that we selected is truly gray. In my mind's eye I had envisioned the gray working well with the nutty brown of the walnut, and our terrazzo is so busy that I was hopeful the solid color countertop would enhance the floor, not fight with it. It was really so silly of me to forget that our rent house kitchen lighting is nothing like what we will have in our remodeled home. I have found that with every decision we made I panic when things are about to be finalized. DH is very patient with me and I think he's also sure I'll eventually come back to what we originally selected. Whew. Chicagoans, I love Sochi's kitchens, both new and old. Her countertop on the walnut is gorgeous. I love the green highlight paint and even looked at that color in caesarstone yesterday against our walnut sample - not my style, but very vibrant! It is the terrazzo in my house that is driving a lot of these decisions - it's got a lot of movement, so we need a super quiet countertop.

Ha, Annie, now all I can picture is two blinking eyes up there! :) Faux68, I had thought about window tinting film, but I don't think it would really do enough to block out the early morning light that we need. linelle, it's because of folks like you that I know I don't want to permanently remove them--some folks would love these windows, I'm sure. Just not us, at 5am in the summer. :) Good to know about the light blocking ability of shutters, olychick, thanks! And I'd been wondering about opening them way up there, a pole makes sense, thanks Geoffrey. I think I'll look into the option of a more traditional window covering (shutters or blinds), since that seems like it'd look more stylish than a board or fabric piece that just covers it up, but those might be in the cards if the shutters/blinds would be a zillion dollars. Off to the custom blinds place for me...